Malta 0-1 Croatia

Croatia have reached their fourth successive European Championship finals

Croatia clinched a Euro 2016 automatic qualifying spot by beating Malta to pip Norway to second place in Group H.

Norway needed to win in Italy to be certain of qualifying automatically, but lost 2-1 after leading 1-0.

Croatia, who were two points behind Norway before kick-off, leapfrogged them thanks to Ivan Perisic's low strike midway through the first half.

Norway were consigned to next month's play-offs after conceding twice in the final 16 minutes in Rome.

Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey put the Scandinavian side ahead with a half-volley, only for Roma's Alessandro Florenzi to steer in Italy's equaliser after 74 minutes.

And Norway's hopes were ended when Southampton striker Graziano Pelle struck a powerful 82nd-minute volley to ensure Italy finished as group winners.

Croatia, who had a point deducted by Uefa earlier in qualifying after a swastika was marked onto their pitch, finished four points behind the Azzurri.

If they had finished level on points with Norway, then they would have progressed automatically because of their superior head-to-head record.

Italy avoided their first competitive home defeat since 1999 with the comeback win